Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has firmly declared that the scheduled local government elections will proceed as planned this Saturday, despite an appeal from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, urging the suspension of the polls.
In a statement released on Friday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke emphasized that democracy is grounded in the rule of law and that no individual has the authority to override the court’s decisions. He emphasized that his government stands firm on the side of legality and that the election will be a step forward for local development.
“As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help. The election will hold, and it will fast-track development at the local level,” the statement read. “I urge our people to remain peaceful. Osun is a truly peaceful state.”
The governor further advised all parties, including local and national stakeholders, to respect democratic norms and abide by the law. He also pointed out that the people of Osun are eager to make their choices for local leadership. “Our people are prepared for elections tomorrow. They yearn to have their choices as chairmen and councillors,” he said, underscoring that several political parties are participating and that the election will be conducted on a level playing field.
Governor Adeleke also praised the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) for its meticulous preparations for the election, based on reports available to him.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, had earlier on Thursday called on the governor to instruct the OSIEC to halt the elections, citing the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal in Akure. The ruling overturned an earlier Federal High Court decision that had nullified the previous local government elections held under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. According to the AGF, the Court of Appeal’s judgment reinstated the sacked council chairmen, effectively validating their tenure until October 2025.
Fagbemi warned that holding the elections now would not only render the new polls invalid but would also be a violation of the Constitution, which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold.
Despite this legal challenge, Governor Adeleke has remained resolute in his stance that the elections will take place as scheduled, positioning them as a crucial moment for local governance in the state.
